John Cecil, former sheriff of Newton County, was known for showing off his twin pearl-handled pistols he had worn as a guerrilla leader for the Confederacy. James Vanderpool was a Union hero who returned home in August 1865. The county produced two famous leaders, fighting for different causes. The Civil War brought strife to this isolated community. Between 18, Ross served in several posts for the town, including postmaster, storekeeper, county clerk, and county judge. On December 14, 1842, Governor Archibald Yell signed legislation creating Newton County from land in Carroll County. By 1843, Ross had relocated his family to Jasper, where he became the first postmaster and established another trading post.
In 1839, Ross moved his wife and baby from Ohio to Clarksville (Johnson County), where he established a trading post on the Arkansas River. Settlers began moving to the area as early as 1825, according to census records made in 1850. Yet another account states that postmaster John Ross coined the name by comparing the mellow color of the local stone to jasper, one of the twelve precious stones mentioned in Revelation.
A second version of this same story tells of a precious ring, containing a jasper stone, given to the postmaster in gratitude for care given to the Cherokee travelers. One oft-repeated legend says that Cherokee Indians traveling west on the torturous Trail of Tears gave the town its name after being surprised by the village’s warm hospitality. Louisiana Purchase through Early StatehoodĪt least three different stories are told about the origin of the name Jasper. Today, it is the hub for outdoor enthusiasts enjoying the Buffalo National River, one of the last free-flowing waterways in the United States, and the Ozark Highland Trail. Jasper was established as a village along the Little Buffalo River by 1840.
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